It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

The Corinthians

As we continue through the book of Acts, noticing the examples of conversion recorded therein, today we learn that the Apostle Paul leaves Greece and comes to the city of Corinth (Acts 18). It is at this time and place that Paul turned from teaching both Jews and Gentiles, because of the blasphemy of the Jews against the gospel of Christ. From this time forward, Paul went to the Gentiles.

In Acts 18:8, this is recorded: "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." Let us go back to the commandment of the Lord in Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." What happened in Corinth? The Corinthians heard (Paul taught them); they believed what was taught; therefore, they were baptized, as the Lord had commanded.

As was mentioned in last week's article, there was another vision recorded in the book of Acts (18:9,10), and we want to look at that today. "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." Please recall that the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized. It cannot be said that all the Corinthians who heard believed, but it is right to say that all that believed were baptized, for that is what the Word of God says.

Sadly, there are those who dispute that conclusion. They go to 1 Corinthians 1:14-17 to attempt to disprove what God says in Acts. "I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." In 1 Corinthians 1:13, Paul asks the question: "Were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" Who is included in the "ye"? It is not just the three mentioned in verses 14 & 16; all of the Corinthians are included in 1 Corinthians 1:2. A similar situation is recorded in John 3:22: "After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea, and there he tarried with them, and baptized." Now, look at John 4:1,2: "When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples)..." Jesus taught, His disciples did the baptizing. None were His disciples who were not baptized. Paul taught, other disciples of Jesus did the baptizing.

Readers, don't take man's word as he attempts to teach baptism is not essential to salvation by using the scriptures given above. Baptism is essential to salvation because Jesus, our Lord, said it was! Read again Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15,16.